Expert Sports Injury
Care in San Diego

Hip pain can change the way you move through life. A morning run becomes a slow walk. Climbing stairs brings a sharp pinch in the groin. Even sitting through a meeting can leave your hip feeling stiff when you stand up. While many people associate these symptoms with aging, hip pain is also a concern for many younger, active adults. In fact, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is recognized as one of the most common causes of hip pain in young adults and can lead to joint damage over time if it is not treated. 

Many people assume a hip replacement is the next step once the pain becomes persistent. Today, that is often not the case. Hip preservation surgery is designed to correct the underlying problem while protecting your natural joint, helping many patients stay active for years before a replacement is ever needed. Read on to understand your treatment options better and how choosing the best orthopedic surgeon in San Diego can make a meaningful difference in both your recovery and your long-term mobility.

What Is Hip Preservation Surgery?

Hip preservation surgery is a group of procedures that treat the source of hip pain while keeping your natural hip joint intact. Instead of replacing the joint, these procedures repair damaged tissue, reshape bone when needed, and improve how the hip moves. This approach is often recommended for younger and more active adults whose cartilage is still healthy enough to preserve. Many patients in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s can be good candidates, depending on the condition of the joint. Athletes, runners, hikers, and people with physically demanding jobs often benefit from preserving the natural hip, as it can help them return to the activities they enjoy.

One of the most common hip preservation procedures is hip arthroscopy. During hip arthroscopy in San Diego, a surgeon uses small instruments and a camera inserted through tiny incisions to repair injuries inside the joint. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, many patients experience less pain after surgery and a faster recovery than with traditional open surgery. Choosing the best hip preservation surgeon in San Diego ensures your treatment plan matches your diagnosis, activity level, and long-term goals.

What Hip Conditions Can Be Treated Without a Hip Replacement?

Many hip problems can be treated before they reach the point of requiring a joint replacement. One of the most common is femoroacetabular impingement, also called FAI. This condition develops when extra bone changes the shape of the hip joint, causing the bones to rub together during movement. Over time, this repeated friction can damage cartilage and the labrum, which is the ring of cartilage that helps stabilize the hip.

Hip preservation surgery can also treat:

• Hip labral tears
• Hip dysplasia
• Cartilage injuries
• Gluteus tendon tears
• Chronic hip bursitis that has not responded to conservative treatment

Many of these conditions begin with symptoms that are easy to dismiss. Pain deep in the groin, clicking or catching inside the joint, stiffness after sitting, or discomfort during exercise may seem minor at first. Over time, these symptoms often become more frequent. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may involve labral repair or reconstruction, reshaping the hip bones, tendon repair, or other specialized procedures. 

Patients searching for the best orthopedic surgeon in San Diego for hip pain are usually looking for surgeons with advanced training in preserving the natural hip whenever possible.

How Do You Know if You Are a Candidate for Hip Preservation Surgery?

The best way to determine whether hip preservation surgery is right for you is through a complete evaluation by an experienced orthopedic specialist. The best hip surgeon in Los Angeles will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and activity level. A physical examination helps identify where the pain is coming from and which movements reproduce your symptoms. Imaging studies such as X-rays and MRI scans provide a detailed view of the bones, cartilage, labrum, and surrounding soft tissues.

Several factors help determine whether preserving the hip is the right approach: Age is one consideration, although the overall condition of the joint is often even more important. Patients with minimal arthritis, healthy cartilage, and correctable structural problems are often strong candidates for hip preservation. 

Waiting too long after symptoms begin may allow additional joint damage to occur, which can reduce treatment options, so meeting with the best orthopedic surgeon in San Diego as soon as possible offers the opportunity to learn which treatment offers the greatest chance of preserving long-term hip function.

Can Hip Preservation Surgery Delay or Prevent Hip Replacement?

For many active individuals, hip preservation surgery can correct structural problems before they cause advanced arthritis. By restoring normal movement within the joint, surgeons can reduce the abnormal forces that gradually wear away cartilage. Treating the underlying problem early may slow joint degeneration and help patients maintain an active lifestyle for many years.

Results depend on several factors, including the diagnosis, overall joint health, and the extent of cartilage damage already present. Patients with early-stage disease generally experience the greatest benefit because the joint still has healthy tissue that can be protected. While no procedure can guarantee that a hip replacement will never be needed, hip preservation offers many active adults the opportunity to delay joint replacement while reducing pain and improving function.

What Is Recovery Like After Hip Preservation Surgery?

Recovery depends on the type of procedure performed, although most patients follow a structured rehabilitation plan over several months. Walking usually begins shortly after surgery with crutches to protect the healing joint. Physical therapy plays a central role throughout recovery by restoring strength, flexibility, balance, and normal movement patterns. As healing progresses, patients gradually return to daily activities over six to 10 weeks before advancing to higher-impact exercise and sports over six to 12 months. Working with the best sports physical therapist in San Diego can help maximize recovery by providing individualized guidance at every stage of rehabilitation. 

Finding the Best Orthopedic Surgeon in San Diego for Hip Pain Relief

Living with hip pain does not have to mean giving up the activities that matter most or assuming a hip replacement is your only path forward. With the right diagnosis and treatment, many active adults can preserve their natural hip joints and continue moving with greater confidence for years to come.

San Diego Performance Orthopedics & Regenerative Therapy offers patients across Leucadia, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Torrey Pines, throughout North San Diego County, and across Southern California the opportunity to explore advanced hip preservation solutions that match their goals and lifestyle. At our Encinitas clinic, our team is led by Dr. Sanjum Samagh, a fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine surgeon with specialized expertise in hip arthroscopy and hip preservation. His training at Stanford University, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Northwestern University, along with his experience caring for professional and Olympic athletes, gives patients access to advanced surgical techniques grounded in decades of research and clinical excellence. 

Ready to protect your hip joint and stay active with advanced care from the best hip surgeon in San Diego?